BlackBerry Bets on the Future of Physical AI and Robotics with QNX Software
August 26, 2026
Based on reporting from CNBC → — simplified & explained by VAIIYA.
BlackBerry has definitively left its image as a smartphone pioneer behind and is now finding success in the market for secure operating systems. The company now sees industrial robotics and physical AI as one of the fastest-growing pillars within its QNX software division. That's what CEO John Giamatteo told business network CNBC.
Focus on industry, not humanoid robots
QNX is known as safety-critical software and now runs in roughly 275 million vehicles worldwide. Inside those vehicles it powers a wide range of functions, from braking systems to advanced driver-assistance features. According to Giamatteo, this battle-tested software lends itself extremely well to applications outside the auto industry.
BlackBerry is notably not focusing on the humanoid robots that have gotten a lot of attention recently. The focus is on industrial environments where safety and precision are critical. Think automated forklifts, smart warehouse robots, and medical equipment. According to the CEO, industrial automation offers an enormous growth opportunity that plays directly to the strengths of the QNX platform.
Partnership with Nvidia and a growing order backlog
The expansion into robotics coincides with the rise of "physical AI," in which advanced software models are directly linked to physical hardware. To further strengthen its position, BlackBerry expanded its partnership with Nvidia earlier this year, combining QNX software with the chipmaker's hardware architecture.
This strategic direction is also paying off financially. BlackBerry has built up an order backlog for QNX worth roughly $950 million in future royalties, with a growing share coming from the robotics sector. Thanks in part to improved margins and rising profitability, the company's stock has more than doubled this year.